Russia and China Concerned About the Situation on the Korean Peninsula; Trump Calls for Stricter Sanctions on North Korea

As Donald Trump, the President of the United States, calls for stricter sanctions against North Korea, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, the Presidents of Russia and China, expressed concern over the rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula following North Korea's new missile test. According to AFP, the White House stated that Trump has requested 'stricter sanctions' against Pyongyang. The report indicates that Trump criticized North Korea's provocative policies and urged all countries to impose tougher sanctions against it. The Trump administration has increased its pressure on North Korea in recent months, repeatedly asking Beijing, North Korea's main political ally, to use its influence to halt Pyongyang's actions. Meanwhile, Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Vladimir Putin, stated that the Presidents of Russia and China discussed the situation on the Korean Peninsula during a meeting on the sidelines of an international conference in Beijing after North Korea's missile test. Peskov noted that both leaders expressed their concerns about the rising tensions in the region. The positions of the leaders of the U.S., Russia, and China were articulated after Seoul and Washington reported on North Korea's latest missile test. The news of the missile test was announced by South Korea's state news agency early on Sunday, May 14. Hours later, the U.S. Pacific Command confirmed the missile test. According to this command, the missile was launched at 10:30 AM Hawaii time (midnight Tehran time) and landed in the Sea of Japan (East Sea). South Korea's state news agency, Yonhap, reported that the recent missile traveled 700 kilometers and appears to have been a 'successful' test, although the type of missile is still unknown. Meanwhile, Japanese media, citing the country's defense minister, said the launched missile may be a 'new type' of North Korean ballistic missile. This missile test occurred just days after the presidential election in South Korea, where Moon Jae-in, the candidate from the liberal party, won. Moon is known as a political figure who supports opening negotiations with Pyongyang alongside sanctions and international pressure. The new South Korean President condemned the missile launch during a National Security Council meeting on Sunday morning, stating, 'Even if negotiations with North Korea are possible, we must show that such negotiations can only happen if Pyongyang changes its approach.' North Korea has long been attempting to conduct a successful intercontinental missile test capable of reaching parts of U.S. territory. The United States and its allies in East Asia have consistently condemned North Korea's missile tests, which also violate United Nations Security Council resolutions. Meanwhile, North Korean officials have criticized the sanctions imposed against Pyongyang and U.S. policies, calling for a review of them. North Korea's delegation to the United Nations stated in a statement that the imposed sanctions target 'the sovereignty and the right to life of its people.' North Korea possesses nuclear weapons and its leader has threatened the United States and South Korea with preemptive nuclear strikes on several occasions.